Dale Lucian, interim chief operating officer for the YMCA of Greenwich, stands in a renovated lobby area on the second floor that will be serviced by an elevator, during a construction tour at the YMCA of Greenwich, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. less

Dale Lucian, interim chief operating officer for the YMCA of Greenwich, stands in a renovated lobby area on the second floor that will be serviced by an elevator, during a construction tour at the YMCA of ... more

Tim Wagner, director of facilities for the YMCA of Greenwich, walks through a renovated circular room on the second floor of the building during a construction tour at the YMCA of Greenwich, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. less

Tim Wagner, director of facilities for the YMCA of Greenwich, walks through a renovated circular room on the second floor of the building during a construction tour at the YMCA of Greenwich, Wednesday, July ... more

At left, Dale Lucian, interim chief operating officer for the YMCA of Greenwich, stands with Tim Wagner, director of facilities, Wednesday, July 18, 2012, at the basketball court and track that Wagner said is being renovated. less

At left, Dale Lucian, interim chief operating officer for the YMCA of Greenwich, stands with Tim Wagner, director of facilities, Wednesday, July 18, 2012, at the basketball court and track that Wagner said is ... more

The basketball court and track at the YMCA of Greenwich, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Tim Wagner, director of facilities for the YMCA of Greenwich, said this area is being renovated and will be essentially kept intact. less

The basketball court and track at the YMCA of Greenwich, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Tim Wagner, director of facilities for the YMCA of Greenwich, said this area is being renovated and will be essentially kept ... more

At left, Tim Wagner, director of facilities for the YMCA of Greenwich, and Dale Lucian, interim chief operating officer, discuss construction near the back of the YMCA of Greenwich building, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. less

At left, Tim Wagner, director of facilities for the YMCA of Greenwich, and Dale Lucian, interim chief operating officer, discuss construction near the back of the YMCA of Greenwich building, Wednesday, July ... more

What is now a labyrinth of construction inside the YMCA of Greenwich will soon be a dynamic, vastly improved building, ready to serve the community's needs.

Timothy Wagner, the YMCA's director of facilities, led Greenwich Time on a tour of the 50 E. Putnam Ave. facility Wednesday afternoon, explaining what visitors can expect come fall, when the new Y debuts.

In the midst of a multimillion-dollar renovation that will allow for the addition of programming and amenities, the building is now bustling with activity, and painters and construction crews toil away, working toward a Sept. 30 completion date.

"We tried to keep the historic element, but at the same time make the building repurposed for today," Wagner explained inside the front lobby. "This is the 1916 building, totally renovated."

Workers gutted the old building of wiring and plumbing, but left many of the historical accents -- such as Y logos in the old pool room and fireplaces in several other rooms -- so the facility retains its character, Wagner said.

Much of the molding that accented the old building is also still visible.

Third-floor dormitories have been replaced by office and conference room space, while an elevator designed to provide better access throughout the 96,000-square-foot structure is already in place.

Visitors will also be pleased to find the old gymnasium and elevated running track next to the old Y building still intact.

"We retained the historic track, and we retained the gymnasium as a gymnasium," Wagner said, explaining that new air conditioning and lighting systems now grace the gym.

He was quick to point out the new facility's main artery will run between the old Y building and the old gymnasium -- a space crews are now working on to provide a smooth flow of foot traffic throughout.

Though pink insulation and some of red bricks from the old structures are still visible inside, the main artery will extend through where the Y front desk is now located, serving as the heart of the facility.

"The concept was not to obliterate what was the past," Wagner said, gesturing around the foyer that faces East Putnam Avenue.

The front desk will eventually be moved, allowing access to the Y's main artery.

"You then flow into the building," Wagner said. "The building flow really moves."

While the historical lobby facing East Putnam Avenue will still exist in the new facility, most members will use a different entrance, located in the rear on Mason Street.

Crews Wednesday were also working on a new stairwell that will eliminate the need for the wooden staircase now extending along the outside.

Wagner said the renovation is on schedule.

Work on the Y resumed in April after being at a standstill for about three years when contractors, owed about $6 million, stopped work and filed mechanic's liens against the Y.

A $3.45 million loan from The First Bank of Greenwich helped the organization pay off the liens as part of a settlement.

The Greenwich institution, with about 5,300 members, had been on unsteady financial ground before announcing a debt restructuring and bank bailout that allowed the renovation to resume. After the Y raised $6 million in capital in 2011, reducing its total debt from $26 million to $23.5 million, YMCA representatives reached a settlement with the contractors and JPMorgan Chase, which loaned the organization $20 million for the renovation, including an Olympic-size swimming pool.

The YMCA must pay back JPMorgan Chase about $20 million over the life of the tax-free bonds issued for the project, which have 23 years of 30 to go.

The new facility will include a large community room, a space for all-day child care, an upgraded and expanded workout facility, new locker rooms, additional space for aerobics classes and a food service area featuring coffee, sandwiches and smoothies.

Dale Lucian, interim chief operating officer, said members should be thrilled with the new Y.

"A lot of them were troopers. They just stuck by it," she said of people who stayed with the Y during the drawn-out renovation process. "Finally, we can give those members more space, more room. To me personally, it's just to please all these members that have been so loyal to us."